A spike in drug overdose deaths sparks calls for more action episode artwork

EPISODE · Jun 20, 2026 · 5 MIN

A spike in drug overdose deaths sparks calls for more action

from SBS News In Depth

Australia is losing one person to a drug overdose every three and a half hours. New figures from the Penington Institute show more than 2,500 Australians died from drug-induced causes in a single year, the deadliest year on record. CEO John Ryan says the toll is now almost double the national road toll, and frontline workers warn the illicit drug market is becoming more unpredictable, with addiction affecting people from all walks of life.

Australia is losing one person to a drug overdose every three and a half hours. New figures from the Penington Institute show more than 2,500 Australians died from drug-induced causes in a single year, the deadliest year on record. CEO John Ryan says the toll is now almost double the national road toll, and frontline workers warn the illicit drug market is becoming more unpredictable, with addiction affecting people from all walks of life.

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A spike in drug overdose deaths sparks calls for more action

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This episode is 5 minutes long.

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This episode was published on June 20, 2026.

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Australia is losing one person to a drug overdose every three and a half hours. New figures from the Penington Institute show more than 2,500 Australians died from drug-induced causes in a single year, the deadliest year on record. CEO John Ryan...

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